Improvement in artificial legs



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

" OOBNELIOUS COLLINSAND JAMES H. MoOALLA, or EAST MELROSE, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ARTIFICIAL LEGS- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 68,140, dated September 28, 1875; application filed July 17, 1875.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that we, OoRNELIoUs OoLLINs and JAMEsH. MoOALLA, of East Melrose, in the county of Monroe and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Artificial Leg, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to allow the heel to turn conveniently upon the anklejoint.

Figure l is partly a side elevation and partly a sectional elevation of our improved leg; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing the expansion of the anklejoint .in lifting the foot.

. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the thigh-socket, and B the leg-socket, which are made of strong sole leather for stiffness, and they are open at the front, and have lacings (J to; adjust them as to size and shape to fit the thigh and leg, thus making nicer fits and easier-settin g sockets, also making them lighter than can be had with the same strength in any other material. Moreover, the leather is sufficiently elastic to adapt itself to the shapes of the limb. D represents the steel bars connecting the sockets and the foot E. They have a knee-joint at F, and they are jointed to the heel by a slot, G, and pin H, to allow the heel to turn on the'anklejoint, which consists of the cushion I of rubber and the hinged rods K L. The cushion is seated between the ankle P and instep, in little recesses, preventing itfrom being displaced, and it is held up firmly to the ankle by rod K, which is permanently fastened in the ankle. The foot is clamped against the cushion with the requisite pressure by the adjusting-nut on the rod L. The spring N, of rubber, forms a part of the ankle-joint, making, together with the cushion I and the pivot, a Very easy and efficient joint.

The ankle and the foot are of wood or any other approved material, and the lower end of socket B fits over and is attached to the top of the ankle. O is the spring of the toejoint. Aleg of this construction is so light and so easy in its action that it may be Worn without shoulder-straps.

Having thus described our invention, claim as new and desire to secure by Lette. Patent- 1. The combination of steel bars D with the sockets .A B, ankle P, and the foot E, substantially as specified.

2. The heel connected to the steel bars by the pins H and curved slots G, in combination with the ankle-joint LK L, substantially as specified.

' GORNELIOUS COLLINS.

JAS. H. MCUALLA. Witnesses:

J. R. HURFORD, T. G. STUART. 

